The Nervous System

Presented by: S. Harry

13/12/20
 The Nervous System
• There are two parts of the nervous system :
1. Central Nervous System (CNS) – which
consists of the brain and spinal cord. The
CNS is the control center of the body.
2. Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) – Consists
of a complex network of nerves that extend
out of the CNS into all parts of the body.
The Nervous System
 How is Information Relayed
• A receptor detects a change in conditions ( a
stimulus).
• A message is carried from the receptor to the
CNS by a sensory neuron.
• After processing, a message is sent from the
CNS to an organ ( an effector) that carries out
a response,
• A motor neuron carries this message.
Relay of Information
 Nerves and Neurons
• All the information carried by the nervous
system travels along specialized cells called
neurons ( sometimes called nerve cells).
Neurons
Parts of a neuron Functions
Cell body Controls the metabolism of the nerve cell
Axon Is a long fibre which carries information away from the
cell body sometimes over long distances.
Fatty sheath made of myelin Gives insulation between neighboring cells and makes
impulses travel faster.
Dendrites Collect information from other cells
Nodes of Ranvier Allow rapid conduction of impulses by forcing them to
‘jump’ from one node to the next.
End plate Which synapses with another nerve cell, a muscle or a
gland
 Nerve Impulses
• Messages pass along neurons in the form of
electrical impulses, called action potential,
which travel very quickly from one nerve cell
to another.
• The end of a neuron is separated from the
next cell by a tiny gap, impulses can only cross
this gap in one direction.
• This gap is called a synapses.
Synapses
 Synapse
1. An impulse arrives at the synapse
2. At the end plate are tiny sacs containing a
chemical ( neurotransmitter)
3. The neurotransmitter is released into the gap
4. The neurotransmitter diffuses across the gap
and the impulse restarts on the other side.
 Reflex actions
• A reflex action is a rapid automatic response
to a stimulus.
• The nerve pathway involved in the reflex
action is called a reflex arc.
Reflex Arc
 Types of reflexes
Name of reflex Stimulus Response Survival value
Coughing Particles making contact Violent contraction of Prevent lungs from
with the lining of the the diaphragm and being damaged or
respiratory tree intercostal muscles. infected , so that gas
exchange remains
efficient.
Pupil reflex Bright light falling on retina Contraction of the Prevents bleaching of
circular muscles of the retina
the iris
Knee jerk Stretching of the tendon Contraction of the The leg can support
just under the knee muscles of the upper the body’s weight
thigh so that the leg during walking
straightens
Swallowing Food particles making Contraction of the Prevents food
contact with the back of muscle of the entering the
the throat epiglottis , which respiratory pathway.
closes off the trachea
 Central Nervous System
• The brain is a highly organized structure, and contains
three types of ‘center’:
1. Sensory centers receive incoming messages from the
sense organs.
2. Motor centers carry instructions from the brain to
the effectors, such as muscles and glands.
3. Association centers interpret the information
delivered to the sensory centers and make sure that
appropriate instructions are given via the motor
centers.
 Central Nervous System
• Give the functions of the following :
1. Meninges
2. Forebrain
3. Hypothalamus
4. Pituitary gland
5. Medulla
6. Cerebral cortex
7. Visual center
8. Cerebellum
9. Spine